Abstract
The present invention relates to a gas lock for separating two gas chambers, which while taking up minimal space makes it possible to achieve the separation of gases without contact with the product/educt/transporting system. The gas lock according to the invention is distinguished by the integration of a measuring chamber for measuring at least one physical and/or chemical property. Also, the present invention relates to a coating device which comprises a gas lock according to the invention. Also provided are possibilities for using the gas lock according to the invention.
Claims
1. A gas lock for separating two gas chambers, comprising a) at least one inflow body, which has at least one inlet passage for a gas, which opens out into a first side of the inflow body, b) a wall which is arranged at a distance from the first side of the at least one inflow body, wherein a gap, which is in fluid communication with the inlet passage, is formed between the wall and the at least one inflow body, said wall configured as a plate, c) at least two outflow openings for the gas, which are in fluid communication with the gap, wherein the first side, delimiting the at least one inflow body, and/or in the side of the wall that is facing the first side of the inflow body there is at least one measuring chamber for measuring at least one physical and/or chemical property of the gas, and wherein on the side of the wall that is facing away from the inflow body a) at least one further inflow body is arranged or b) a plurality of alternately arranged inflow bodies and plates are arranged wherein the at least one inflow body has at least two inlet passages for a gas and the gap is in fluid communication with the at least two inlet passages, wherein in the first side, delimiting the at least one inflow body, and/or in the side of the wall that is facing the first side of the at least one inflow body there are at least two measuring chambers for measuring at least one physical and/or chemical property of the gas; wherein there are n measuring chambers, where n is a whole number 2, which are arranged equidistantly, wherein each measuring chamber is flanked on each side by at least one inlet passage.
2. The gas lock according to claim 1, wherein the first side, delimiting the at least one inflow body, and/or the side of the wall that is facing the first side of the inflow body has at least one recess extending from the first side of the inflow body and protruding into said body or extending from the side of the wall that is facing the first side of the inflow body and protruding into the wall.
3. The gas lock according to claim 2, wherein there is at least one recess and at least one elevation.
4. The gas lock according to claim 1, wherein the first side, delimiting the at least one inflow body, and/or the side of the wall that is facing the first side of the inflow body has at least one elevation extending from the first side of the inflow body and protruding into the gap or extending from the side of the wall that is facing the first side of the inflow body and protruding into the gap.
5. The gas lock according to claim 1, wherein it is constructed mirror-symmetrically with respect to the measuring chamber and/or rotationally symmetrically with respect to an axis extending parallel to the gas lock.
6. The gas lock according to claim 1, wherein the outflow openings are arranged such that the outflow direction of the first outflow opening is opposed to the outflow direction of the second outflow opening.
7. The gas lock according to claim 1, wherein the gap extends essentially perpendicularly in relation to the at least one inlet passage.
8. The gas lock according to claim 1, wherein there is at least one possibility for the suction removal of gas.
9. The gas lock according to claim 1, wherein a possibility for suction removal is respectively provided between the at least one measuring passage flanking a measuring chamber and the measuring passage neighboring said measuring passage, which flanks a neighboring measuring chamber.
10. A coating device or heat treatment device, comprising at least one gas lock according to claim 1.
11. A use of a gas lock according to claim 1, for maintaining an existing concentration gradient of one and/or more gases and/or for maintaining a separation of different gases in the two gas chambers.
Description
BRIEF DISCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is a gas lock known from the prior art is represented. The gas lock I serves in this case for separating two gas chambers G1 and G2 and is to this extent arranged between these gas chambers.
(2) FIGS. 2 to 16 represents an embodiment according to the invention of a gas lock.
(3) FIG. 3 is a further embodiment of a gas lock according to the invention.
(4) FIG. 4 is a further embodiment of a gals lock according to the invention.
(5) FIG. 5 is the reverse concept from the embodiment according to FIG. 4.
(6) FIG. 6 concerns a combination of the measures that are represented in FIGS. 4 and 5.
(7) FIG. 7 is a special gas lock I.
(8) FIG. 8 shows a further preferred embodiment of the gas lock I.
(9) FIG. 9 is a special configuration of a gas lock I according to the invention.
(10) FIG. 10 is a further form of a gas lock I, which is formed by two part-gas-locks GS1 and GS2.
(11) FIG. 11 is a further concept of a gas lock I.
(12) FIG. 12 represents a further embodiment of the gas lock according to the invention.
(13) FIG. 13 is a further embodiment of the gas lock according to the invention.
(14) FIG. 14 is an example of a further configuration of a gas lock I according to the invention.
(15) FIG. 15 is a single part-gas-lock.
(16) FIG. 16 shows the extension of the concept presented in FIG. 15.
(17) FIG. 17 shows a rotationally summetrical form of the gas lock.
(18) FIG. 18 is an embodiment in which the pipe R is interrupted approximately in the middle of the inflow body K.
(19) FIG. 19 shows a coating device according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
(20) The present invention is explained in more detail on the basis of the following figures, without restricting the invention to the special configurations that are represented.
(21) In FIG. 1, a gas lock known from the prior art is represented. The gas lock I serves in this case for separating two gas chambers G1 and G2 and is to this extent arranged between these gas chambers. Comprised is an inflow body K, which has an inlet passage H arranged centrally in the inflow body K. Arranged opposite the inflow body K is a wall, formed as a plate A, so that a gap B is formed between the plate A and the inflow body K. The respective outflow openings, which are located at the outlets of the gas lock I in relation to the gas chambers G1 and G2, are denoted by i1 and i2. The inert gas/non-critical gas i1 or i2 flows toward the gas chambers G1 and G2.
(22) The respective gas pressures in the respective gas chambers G1 and G2 are denoted by P1 and P2. P3 is the pressure of the inert gas within the feedline of the lock gas.
(23) In this arrangement, a precise measurement of the outflow pressure (pressure P3) cannot take place in the feedline of the inert gas/non-critical gas in the gap B. The pressures at the gas lock outlet i1, i2 can only be measured directly in the gas chambers G1 and G2. The gas lock operates all the more effectively the higher P3 is in comparison with P1 and P2. As already indicated in the figure, this gas lock is operated in such a way that the pressure of the inflowing gas P3 must be greater than the pressures P1 and P2 prevailing in the respective gas chambers G1 and G2. However, in this embodiment the pressure of the inert gas P3 that is required for example for efficiently maintaining a gradient of the chemical composition of the gases in the gas chambers G1 and G2 can only be roughly estimated. This lock can only be operated very inexactly.
(24) These fundamental points made in relation to FIG. 1 (for example the designations) also apply unrestrictedly to the embodiments according to the invention that are presented below.
(25) FIGS. 2 to 16 all represent embodiments according to the invention of a gas lock. In FIG. 2, the basic embodiment of the present invention is represented.
(26) The arrangement differs from the prior-art embodiment according to FIG. 1 that is described above by the additional measuring chamber C. Here, a separate measuring chamber for the outflow pressure of the inert gas or non-critical gas is incorporated in the gas lock and can be additionally (optionally) flushed with inert gas (or non-critical gas). Also provided are two inlet passages H1 and H2, which flank the measuring chamber C. The embodiment represented here is constructed mirror-symmetrically with respect to the measuring chamber C.
(27) In FIG. 3, a further embodiment of a gas lock according to the invention is represented. The arrangement differs from the embodiment according to FIG. 2 by additional measuring chambers D1 and D2 arranged on both sides for the measurement of the outlet-side gas lock pressures P1 and P2. Here, separate measuring chambers are incorporated in the gas lock and can be additionally (optionally) flushed with inert gas (or non-critical gas). This construction particularly overcomes problem c) mentioned at the beginning.
(28) A further embodiment of a gas lock is represented in FIG. 4. This embodiment differs from the embodiment represented in FIG. 2 in that one or more recesses E (in the present case four) are additionally incorporated in the underside of the inflow body K, wherein these recesses respectively flank the inflow passages H1 and H2. These recesses E may for example take the form of notches or depressions on the surface of the inflow body K. In the case of a mirror-symmetrical form of the gas lock, the notches E are formed so as to extend parallel to one another, for example in the transverse direction in relation to the respective main directions of flow of the inert gas that are indicated by the arrows. The recesses E may be made both from the inflow body K and from the plate A (not represented). These act as flow traps and prevent gas from being returned under turbulent or critical operating conditions. In addition, such a construction allows the length of the lock (length of the gap B in the direction of the respective gas chambers G1 and G2) to be minimized.
(29) In FIG. 5, the reverse concept from the embodiment according to FIG. 4 is represented. Instead of the recesses E that are represented in FIG. 4, the embodiment according to FIG. 5 has elevations F extending from the underside of the inflow body K and protruding into the gap B. This may take place both from the inflow body K and from the plate A. These elevations act as flow breakers and prevent gas from being returned under turbulent or critical operating conditions. In addition, such a construction allows the length of the lock to be minimized.
(30) FIG. 6 concerns a combination of the measures that are represented in FIGS. 4 and 5. The gas lock I represented here has an inflow body K, which has both recesses E and elevations F. There is also the possibility that the recesses E and elevations F may be formed in the plate A (not represented).
(31) Represented in FIG. 7 is a special gas lock I, which has both additional measuring chambers D1 and D2 (this embodiment was shown in detail in FIG. 3) and additionally has on the underside of the inflow body K a number of recesses E, as described in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 4. The embodiment of the gas lock 1 that is represented in FIG. 7 is consequently a combination of the embodiments that are represented in FIGS. 3 and 4. The recesses E may be made both from the inflow body K and from the plate A. These act as flow traps and prevent gas from being returned under turbulent or critical operating conditions. In addition, such a construction allows the length of the lock to be minimized.
(32) FIG. 8 shows a further preferred embodiment of the gas lock I according to the invention, which concerns extending the gas lock already represented in FIG. 5 by the two additional measuring chambers D1 and D2. In this way, the inflow body K has on the underside a plurality of elevations F. The embodiment represented here is consequently a combination of the technical features that are represented in FIGS. 3 and 5. The elevations F may be made both from the inflow body K and from the plate A. These act as flow breakers and prevent gas from being returned under turbulent or critical operating conditions. In addition, such a construction allows the length of the lock to be minimized.
(33) Represented in FIG. 9 is a further special configuration of a gas lock I according to the invention, which apart from additional measuring chambers D1 and D2 has in the inflow body K both the elevations F and the recesses E explained in detail above. This embodiment represented here consequently represents a combination of the embodiments according to FIGS. 3 and 6.
(34) A further form of a gas lock I, which is formed by two part-gas-locks GS1 and GS2, is set out in FIG. 10. These two part-gas-locks GS1 and GS2 are in this case formed essentially analogously to an individual gas lock according to an embodiment of FIG. 3 and are arranged in series with one another in order to form the gas lock I as a whole. However, this configuration of the two part-gas-locks GS1 and GS2 is only of an exemplary nature; these two part-gas-locks GS1 and GS2 may similarly be formed according to any embodiment represented in the above figures, and consequently also comprise the flow breakers referred to above, for example in the form of elevations or recesses. Provided between the two part-gas-locks GS1 and GS2 there is a possibility for suction removal AS, by way of which the gas fed in can be removed. The two part-gas-locks GS1 and GS2 respectively have in this case separate gas feeds H1 and H2 (in the case of GS1) and H3 and H4 (in the case of GS2). During the operation of such a gas lock I, the following applies for the pressures that prevail in the respective regions of the gas lock or the two gas chambers G1 and G2: P3>P1, P3>P5, P4>P2 and P4>P5, the measuring points for the pressures in the gas lock I being provided with the encircled designations.
(35) Represented in FIG. 11 is a further concept of a gas lock I, which in this special embodiment comprises three part-gas-locks arranged in series with one another, as they are also represented in FIG. 10. To maintain clarity, the designations have not been shown in the representation in FIG. 11, but the configuration of the gas lock represented here corresponds in principle to the type of construction that is represented in FIG. 10. By contrast with the configuration according to FIG. 10 with two part-gas-locks, in the case of the configuration according to FIG. 11 (with three part-gas-locks) a second possibility for suction removal is provided for the removal of gas AS.
(36) FIG. 12 represents a further embodiment of the invention, a gas lock I which comprises n part-gas-locks arranged in series being represented here. A possibility for suction removal AS for gas is provided between each of the part-gas-locks that are present. The embodiment represented here represents the logical extension of the embodiments represented in FIGS. 10 and 11 by n further part-gas-locks.
(37) Represented in FIG. 13 is a further embodiment of the gas lock according to the invention, which, by contrast with the preceding embodiments of the gas lock, has two inlet bodies K and K instead of a single inlet body, these inlet bodies being separated from one another by a plate A. The respective inlet passages H1 and H2, and H3 and H4 in this case respectively open out in the direction of the plate 4 lying between the two inlet bodies K and K. To this extent, this embodiment of the present invention concerns an embodiment according to FIG. 2 extended by a further inlet body. The two inlet bodies K and K do not in this case have to be arranged symmetrically at a distance from the plate A, as represented in FIG. 13; an asymmetrical arrangement of the two inlet bodies K at a distance from the plate A is also possible. The other designations are taken from those of FIG. 2, those in the additional gas lock that is formed by the inflow body K and the plate A being provided with an apostrophe. In this case, the plate A lying between the two inflow bodies K and K may be movably formed. It may for example be guidable in a horizontally movable manner, as indicated on the right in the figure by v.
(38) In addition or alternatively to this, however, vertical movability of the plate A is also conceivable, so that for example the width of one of the two gaps B or B is reduced to 0, and consequently one gas lock can be closed. It is possible by this gas lock that is represented in FIG. 13 for a total of four gas chambers G1 to G4 to be separated from one another. The corresponding pressure conditions that have to prevail during the operation of the gas lock are as already indicated in the preceding figures by the respective designations P1 to P6, the respective ideal pressures being represented in the figure.
(39) The embodiment of the gas lock in which there are a number of inlet bodies K, K, . . . , Kn can be transferred to any of the lock principles that are represented in FIGS. 1 to 12. FIG. 14 shows merely as an example of this a further configuration of a gas lock I according to the invention, which corresponds to a doubling of the gas lock that is represented in FIG. 12, wherein a further inflow body K is formed with the corresponding configurations (i.e., for example, here too there are possibilities for suction removal, etc.). For the sake of clarity, here too the respective designations are not provided in detail; in this respect, reference is also made to the statements made with respect to FIG. 12. The plate A arranged between the two inflow bodies K and K may be formed according to the embodiments of FIG. 13.
(40) As explained in more detail in a special embodiment in FIG. 15, the concept of a gas lock referred to in FIG. 13, which has more than one inflow body K, can be extended as desired by a vertical dimension. Represented here is a gas lock I, which is constructed from three part-gas-locks L, M and N. The part-gas-lock L with an inflow body K is based on the embodiment that is represented in FIG. 2. For the sake of clarity, the designations are not specified in detail in this figure either; the gas locks are in this case all formed in the way represented in FIG. 2. The part-gas-lock L with the inflow body K is delimited by a movably arranged plate A1. The plate A1 is adjoined by the second part-gas-lock M, which is situated between the part-gas-locks L and N. This part-gas-lock is delimited on one side by the plate A1, on the other side by the plate A2. The plate A2 is in this case also movably formed, according to the representation in the figure in the horizontal direction. The inflow body K of the part-gas-lock M is in this case formed such that it has outlet passages on both sides, i.e. outlet passages in the direction of the plate A1 and the plate A2. The part-gas-lock N is formed by an inflow body K, which is formed mirror-symmetrically in relation to the first part-gas-lock L.
(41) Finally, FIG. 16 shows the extension of the concept presented in FIG. 15 in the form of a multi-parallel multiplex lock for n movable plates A1 . . . An. Instead of a single part-gas-lock M, which is contained between two terminating part-gas-locks L and N, as represented in FIG. 15, the embodiment according to FIG. 16 has n different part-gas-locks, which are respectively separated from one another by a plate A. The inflow bodies forming the part-gas-locks M1 . . . Mn are in this case based on the inflow body K of the part-gas-lock according to FIG. 15. This embodiment makes it possible for a total of up to G2n different gas chambers to be separated. The further details of such a multi-parallel multiplex lock, in particular with regard to the movability of the plates A, has already been described in detail in FIGS. 13 to 15.
(42) It goes without saying that there is also the possibility that the locks that are represented in FIGS. 13 to 16 are designed according to one of the embodiments that are represented in FIGS. 3 to 12.
(43) With respect to all of the statements made above, the plate A may be arranged at a fixed distance with respect to the inflow body or the inflow bodies, but may also be movably formed, so that a variation of the gap width and/or a variation of the horizontal position of the wall in relation to the inflow body is possible.
(44) FIG. 17 shows a rotationally symmetrical form of the gas lock. Here, the gas lock I is formed by a rotationally symmetrically formed inflow body K, which is arranged around a pipe R. In this case, the outer wall A of the pipe R serves as a wall or delimitation. The gap B is in this case formed by the surface A of the pipe R and the inner side of the inflow body K. Also in this way, a separation of the two gas pipes G1 and G2 represented here is possible. The possibility of a number of gas inlets C and a centrally arranged measuring chamber C as well as gas inlets H1 and H2 flanking the latter is indicated. In this respect, the embodiment according to FIG. 17 is both rotationally symmetrical (with respect to the center point of the pipe or of the inflow body K) and mirror-symmetrical with respect to the measuring chamber C. However, this embodiment merely represents an example of a rotationally symmetrical form of the gas lock arrangement; all other variants of the form of an inflow body K that are represented in FIGS. 2 to 16 also come into consideration for the inflow body K.
(45) Represented in FIG. 18 is an embodiment in which the pipe R is interrupted approximately in the middle of the inflow body K. In the embodiment that is represented in FIG. 18, this interruption is level with the measuring chamber C or the possibility for suction removal AS. For this case, the gas chamber G2 lies inside the pipe R, it being possible for the gas chambers G1 and G2 to be arranged separately from one another. This can be accomplished for example by a closure of the pipe.
(46) FIG. 19 shows a coating device according to the present invention, in which a number of gas locks according to the invention are integrated. For reasons of clarity, the embodiments according to the invention of the gas locks are not represented in this case.
(47) In a first embodiment, the coating device has two coating chambers G5 and G6, which respectively have a suction removal (indicated by the arrow). These coating chambers G5 and G6 may operate at the same pressure level, but do not have to. A longitudinal section through the coating device from the side is represented. G1, G2, G3 and G4 may in this case represent the environment, for which reason the following applies for the pressures:
(48) P(G1)=P(G2)=P(G3)=P(G4). P(G5) may be greater than or less than P(G1), P(G2), P(G3) or P(G4). The same applies to P(G6). In any event, the pressure in all four locks is greater than P(G1), P(G2), P(G3), P(G4), P(G5) and P(G6). Consequently, the gas chamber G5 and the gas chamber G6 are separated from the environment.
(49) The substrate can thus be moved continuously through the plant (specifically without contact), without losing the gas separation of the chambers G5 and G6 (it does not however have to be moved continuously). In the case shown, the substrate would be coated on top and underneath (but it could also be coated on one side, for which the plant would only have to have the part above the substrate (coating on top) or below the substrate (coating underneath)).
(50) In a second embodiment, however, it is also conceivable that a cylindrical substrate, for example a pipe, is passed through the coating device represented. In this case, the gas chambers G1 and G3, G2 and G4 as well as G5 and G6 are connected to one another; in this case, there are only two gas locks, which are formed cylindrically around the pipe.
(51) In any event, the gas locks are, however, formed according to the invention, as described above.
